Madrid has dissolved its Youth Council, introducing a new advisory body to oversee youth policies. The move aims to broaden participation but has sparked debate over representation and transparency.
The Community of Madrid has formally dissolved the long-standing Consejo de la Juventud de la Comunidad de Madrid (CJCM), replacing it with the newly established Mesa de Políticas de Juventud. This change, published in the Boletín Oficial de la Comunidad de Madrid, marks a significant shift in how youth policies are coordinated and who gets a seat at the table. The new body is designed to act as an advisory and participatory forum, aiming to reflect the diversity of Madrid's youth and streamline the implementation of projects and initiatives affecting young people across the region.
Unlike its predecessor, the Mesa de Políticas de Juventud does not have its own legal personality and is attached directly to the Consejería de Familia, Juventud y Asuntos Sociales, currently headed by Ana Dávila. The stated goal is to promote policies that support the personal, social, educational, and professional development of young people, smoothing their transition into adulthood. The Mesa is also tasked with serving as a legitimate interlocutor with the regional administration on youth interests, and with fostering collaboration between public administrations and youth organizations.
The structure of the new body is notably different. The presidency will be held by the Director General de Juventud, with a subdirector general as vice president. The plenary will include one director-level representative from each regional ministry, five representatives from youth entities and associations selected through a public call every four years, three municipal representatives proposed by the Federación de Municipios de Madrid (FMM) based on population size, and one representative for older people, nominated by the Consejo Regional de Mayores. The Mesa will meet at least twice a year and can also operate through working groups. Importantly, its creation is not expected to increase public spending or administrative personnel costs, and neither members nor invited experts will receive financial compensation or per diems.
The decision to eliminate the CJCM was approved in the Madrid Assembly with support from the Partido Popular and opposition from other parties. Lawmakers backing the move cited the need to rationalize spending and improve administrative efficiency, arguing that the previous council had become a tool for a select few to pursue personal or ideological agendas. Critics, including former members of the CJCM, have accused the government of silencing dissenting voices and questioned the democratic legitimacy of the new selection process for representatives.
Earlier this year, Laura Castillo, Director General de Juventud, outlined the government's intention to create a body more closely aligned with the real issues facing young people and free from partisanship. She emphasized that the new forum would allow broader participation in all projects, distancing itself from what she described as the exclusivity of the former council. This approach echoes broader debates about representation and transparency in regional governance, as seen in other recent political developments in Madrid, such as the internal disputes within PSOE over primary races, which were covered in detail in recent reports on party tensions in the region.
For context, the CJCM was previously dissolved in 2010 under Esperanza Aguirre's leadership and later reinstated in 2017 by Cristina Cifuentes, both from the Partido Popular. The current reform is part of a broader legislative package aimed at improving local and regional management. Across Spain, youth councils and advisory bodies have played varying roles in shaping policy, but their structure and influence often reflect the political climate of the moment. The new Mesa de Políticas de Juventud will now be closely watched to see whether it can deliver on its promise of greater inclusivity and effective coordination without the pitfalls that led to its predecessor's demise.
